GINGIVITIS 

Just as a good frame enhances a fine painting, firm healthy gums improve the
appearance of sound, white teeth.  Gums that are red and inflamed detract from a
an otherwise pleasant smile.  Healthy gums do not bleed when brushed. 
If bleeding does occur this invariably means that the gums are inflamed - 
a condition known as gingivitis.

If plaque is allowed to build up on teeth near the gum margin, toxins from 
bacteria in the plaque begin to infect the gums.  The first outward sign
of this infection is that the gums become red and bleed easily when touched. 

At this stage the gums can be easily returned to a healthy state.  However,
if these early warning signs are ignored and plaque is allowed to accumulate
further, more serious damage can occur.  The toxins from plaque begin to
seep down between the gum and the tooth destroying the bone and fibres
that hold a tooth in place.  Evenutally, if no treatment is received, the 
tooth becomes very loose and will fall out.  This loss of supporting 
bone and fibres is called periodontitis.

CURING  GINGIVITIS

Gingivitis can be cured in about four to five days.  the secret is actually to 
clean the bleeding gums more, not less. 

First, select a soft toothbrush. 
Using a toothbrush and water only, aim the bristles at an
angle of 45 degrees towards the gum line and move the brush with either a
circular or jiggling motion while continuing to exert firm pressure on the
brush head against the gums . Continue brushing until you have cleaned all
teeth on there inner and outer surfaces as well as the biting surfaces.
Follow up by rinsing thoroughly with an antiseptic mouthwash.
On the first day, the gums will bleed and feel sore.  The same thing will
happen on the third day, by which stage you may be saying that the whole
treatment is madness and you may be thinking of giving up. 
Do not give up! By about the fourth or fifth day the gums will start to feel
better and become firmer and healthier. 
To complete the return to normal, dental floss should then be used after
brushing to remove any remaining plaque between the teeth.
A day or so later the gums will not bleed at all upon brushing or flossing. 
Brushing and flossing should be done thoroughly after every meal.

WHY  USE  A  SOFT  TOOTHBRUSH?

A soft toothbrush is best because the bristles have more flexibility to 
get further into tight spaces than bristles in a hard brush.  Furthermore,
a hard toothbrush can damage teeth and gums if used in the wrong way.
Once your gums are healthy you may decide to use a slightly firmer brush.

WHY  DENTAL  FLOSS ?

No toothbrush can routinely remove plaque from between the teeth, this is 
why dental floss is needed.

Unfortunately some people have difficutly in using dental floss, particularly
the unwaxed variety.  They find that it shreds and tears when they pass it 
between tight teeth or between teeth with old fillings.  It is not surprising
that many give up when this happens.

In recent years another version of floss, dental tape has become available
in Australia.  Although it has not received much publicity, it is an excellent 
product.  It can be used with confidence where unwaxed dental floss just 
would not stand up.

HOW  OFTEN  SHOULD  PLAQUE  BE  REMOVED?

Plaque should be removed carefully at least once each day to keep gingivitis 
at bay.  This means using dental floss followed by the toothbrush. 
In many households, mornings are not a good time for meticulous plaque removal
because everyone is busy getting ready for school, work and so on, therefore
we recommend that you do this after your evening meal. 

The only permanent way of treating and preventing gingivitis is to practice
careful plaque control.  During the first few days of gingivitis treatment
when the gums feel sore after brushing, a couple of simple home remedies can
be of help.  Rinsing with a warm salt water solution or applying a baby's 
teething jelly after brushing may make the gums feel more comfortable.
It must be stressed, however, that neither of these treatments has any
effect on the gingivitis itself.

Gingivitis is an early warning sign that the gums are unhealthy.  Treatment
is simple, straightforward and carried out at home.  However the whole secret
of the treatment is to persevere through the first few days when the gums
bleed and feel sore.  Once gingivitis is gone it will not return as long as
one brushes properly and cleans between the teeth with dental floss
once each day.
The use of a good antiseptic mouthwash is highly recommended because when
this is used after flossing and brushing, it will effectively kill and
flush away many bacteria that were missed by the brushing and flossing.
A mouth that is free of bacteria will more likely be also free of gum disease
and tooth decay. By keeping the bacteria population at a low level in ones
mouth, we can enjoy good oral health.